its Entertai
Illuminating Images
The following programs have been planned in
conjunction with "Treasures of Jewish Cultural
Heritage from the Library of the Jewish
Theological Seminary":
• A special preview of "Treasures of Jewish
Cultural Heritage from the Library of the Jewish
Theological Seminary" will be held 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, March 14, at the Detroit Institute of
Arts. Dr. Meyer Rabinowitz, librarian and associ-
ate professor of Talmud at JTS, will be the
keynote speaker at 4:30 p.m. He will speak on the
value of preserving the Jewish past to build the
future. Light refreshments will be served. $18.
• Teacher Workshop: "The Art of the Book," 9
a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18. $30 nonmem-
bers/$24 members.
• Drop-In Workshop: "Bookarts," create a sim-
ple book of your own to take home, 12-3 p.m.
Saturdays, March 27 and April 10, and Sunday,
April 11. Free with museum admission.
• Drop-in Workshop: "Printmaking," learn to
make a simple print to take home, 12-3 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, May 2. Free
with museum admission.
• Adult Class: "Book Art for Adults," taught by
Lynne Avadenka, 1-3 p.m. Sundays, April 11,
18, 25. $30 nonmembers/$24 members. $15
materials fee.
• Lecture: "Salamoni Rossi: A 16th Century
Jewish Composer," 2 p.m. Sunday, March 21.
Free with museum admission.
• Lecture: "Judaism, Christianity and Islam:
Confrontation and Cooperation," 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 25. Free with museum admission.
• Tour: "Boundaries of the Universe: A Suite of
Prints," with Lynne Avadenka, 2 p.m. Sunday,
May 16. Free with museum admission.
• Video: Title to Be Announced, 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 29, and Sundays, May 9 and 30.
Free with museum admission.
• Storytelling: "Jewish Folklore: The Oral
Transmission of the Written Text," with Corrine
Stavish, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 23. Free with
museum admission.
• Hudson's First Fridays at the DIA: "Insider's
View" by Ellen Sharp, 6 and 7:30 p.m. April 2.
Free with museum admission.
A preview reception for the exhibition
"Treasures of Jewish Cultural Heritage From
the Library of the Jewish Theological
Seminary" will be held 3-6 p.m. Sunday,
March 14, at the DIA. Rabbi Mayer
Rabinowitz will present a lecture at 4:30
p.m. The cost is $18 per person, payable at
the door. For information or to register for
classes or workshops, call (313) 833-4249.
3/12
1999
84 Detroit Jewish News
IMAGES from page 81
he organizes the library's traveling collections. "In
total, there are 110 objects, and some are really quite
startling."
The first part of the exhibition consists of two of
the most important illuminated Hebrew manuscripts
owned by the seminary — the
Prato Haggadah, which was
written around 1300 in Spain,
and the Rothschild Mahzor,
which was completed in 1492
Italy. These two manuscripts
together have never been seen
outside the seminary.
The second part of the
exhibition includes 27 ketub-
bot (marriage contracts) from
the library and a private collec- Rabbi Jerry
tion; they represent countries
Schwarzbard:
as far away as India, Morocco,
"The exhibition
the Netherlands and Portugal.
reflects the richness
The third component, titled of the Jewish tra-
"Toward the Eternal Center:
dition."
Israel, Jerusalem and the
Temple," consists of 81 objects
devoted to the concepts of a physical and spiritual
center, and features medieval manuscripts, books,
maps, illuminations, prints and broadsides.
"The exhibition reflects the richness of the Jewish
tradition," says Rabbi Schwarzbard, who has lectured
extensively about Judaica, Hebraica, the library and
its treasures and is making several trips to Michigan
to set up the displays and train the docents.
"The marriage contracts are quite fascinating for
anyone interested in the folk art of the Jewish people or
the various customs, such as the acceptance of dowries,
of Jewish communities around the
world. Still, they are very similar in
language, superscriptions and verses,
and you'll find the same verses in a
Persian ketubbah, an Indian ketub-
bah and an Italian ketubbah."
The JTS library has more than
11,000 Hebrew manuscripts, and
its rare book collection is the largest
of its kind in the world. It acquires
historically significant works as well
contemporary pieces through dona-
Rabbi Mayer
tions, direct purchases and auctions.
Rabinowitz will
The final selections for the
speak at the pre-
Motor
City exhibition were
view reception on
made
by
Ellen Sharp, DIA cura-
Sunday.
tor of graphic arts, and Michael
Kan, DIA curator of African,
Oceanic and New World cultures.
"These are extremely rare and beautiful illuminat-
ed manuscripts, and they're representative of the
seminary's holdings," says Sharp, who will be con-
ducting one of the lecture sessions. "The Rothschild
Mahzor reflects the position of the Florence Jews,
who had positions of importance."